Butch Jones’ team can’t help but play the what-if game over failing to claim an SEC East title in a season when it was within the Volunteers’ grasp.
This was a season that we will remember for a couple of heartbreaking losses -- namely September defeats against Oklahoma and Florida when the Vols (8-4, 5-3 SEC) were on the verge of breakthrough victories -- but Jones’ club still made progress overall.
Their eight wins were the most by a Tennessee team since 2007, and this will be the first time since that ’07 season that the Vols will play in a New Year’s Day bowl game.